For our good friend's wedding in Ireland this Summer, I decided to gift them their very own portrait each, painted as Owls...certainly an odd request for some but for Niamh, the Owl is her favourite fluffy, feathered critter.

I included certain personal traits unique to both of them including Joe's large Gallstones he had removed last Christmas, resting in the scales of Justice to represent his law background and ventures into becoming a Barrister...Niamh not only has a selection of her favourite books, but also her prized pair of Con's hanging from the branch she's perched on.

Joe is from Navan outside of Dublin in Ireland, an area known for it's historical landmark 'Newgrange' so that is represented in the background...Niamh is from Tipperary in Ireland and the landmark on her sunset skyline is the famous 'Rock of Cashel' famous in that area.

The two come together beautifully in a pair of vintage frames dated from 1939 with authentic bubble glass I picked up from a wonderful old lady in Queensland, Australia and they made the journey over here to Ireland safely...

Very happy with the result especially all worked up in Watercolour...my fave.

Before framing...cut to size and painted specifically for their vintage frames...

The vintage bubble glass frames in action, dated '1939' on the back and stamped from their maker.

A trip to my favourite Framers 'Forte' for some advice and backing to those vintage frames...

Not much to say about Space Dog. This is a present I made for a very special person, who also happens to be my smelly cousin Josh for his 21st. He's the only person I know who owns an Occulus Rift...he has a spiritual affinity with the dopey Golden Lab, and space because...space. He also needed some wise words for his imminent downward spiral into Adult life so...the classic adage of the three wise sentences would suffice.